Mims bound over for trial

Monday

Aug 26, 2013 at 10:44 PM

John Ford

A Neosho man facing charges of forcible rape and felonious restraint has been bound over for trial.

Tomico Shante Mims, 38, entered a not guilty plea before Presiding Judge Timothy Perigo Monday and will next be in court on Sept. 16 for a pre-trial conference. He is being represented by Kellie Lynn Suckering, assistant pubic defender.

Neosho officers responded to the 100 block of West Hickory Street in Neosho around 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, in reference to a domestic assault investigation. A 28-year-old female reported she was physically and sexually assaulted by Mims at his residence in the 800 block of West Patterson Street. After receiving a search warrant for Mims' address, officers reportedly found evidence of the crime, and Mims was later arrested and charged.

According to the probable cause affidavit, written by Neosho Officer Trent Gold, the victim had been in a "continuing social relationship" with Mims prior to the incident.

According to the statement, around 6 a.m. Tuesday, July 23, Mims assaulted the victim, by punching her and throwing her to the floor.

"During this incident, [the victim] required medical attention for the injuries she sustained," Gold wrote in the report.

Mims also allegedly forced the victim to engage in sexual intercourse with him, by "placing her in fear of death or serious physical injury."

He allegedly told the victim she could not leave the residence without engaging in intercourse with him.

Additionally, Mims is accused of grabbing the victim by her hair as she attempted to leave the residence and forcing her back into the bedroom, where he allegedly continued to beat her.

• • •A former Seneca woman accused of taking funds from the Seneca Parent Teacher Organization will be back in court Sept. 16.

Tabitha L. Lant, 28, now of Joplin, will be back in court at 9 a.m. Sept. 16 for a pre-trial conference. Newton County Division II Associate Circuit Court Judge Greg Stremel will preside.

Lant is accused of taking nearly $25,200 while serving as treasurer of the PTO. Seneca Police Chief James Altic wrote in the affidavit that the missing funds were discovered when Seneca PTO President Lacie Graham was contacted by Peoples Bank of Seneca, regarding insufficient funds in the organization's checking account.

According to Altic's report, the charges included purchases from Tropical Tan, Sam's Club, Kohl's and Wal-Mart.

"The Seneca Police Department acquired video from Wal-Mart where Lant was using the PTO debit card for personal use," Altic wrote. "A search warrant was served on Lant's residence for any and all PTO related documents."

• • •

An Oklahoma man has pleaded guilty to the armed robbery of a McDonald County convenience store.

Matthew Wayne Adkins, 29, was placed on five years supervised probation after his Aug. 21 guilty plea. Adkins received a suspended sentence of 15 years in a Missouri Department of Corrections prison.

Adkins was accused of entering the Filling Station, located near Southwest City, early July 2 and demanding money from the clerk at gunpoint.

Adkins was represented by Charles G. Oppelt, a public defender.

• • •

A pre-trial conference has been set for a Wentworth man facing five counts of receiving stolen property.

Garret Bryce Falls, 43, will be back in court on Wednesday for a pretrial conference. Newton County Division II Associate Circuit Court Judge Greg Stremel will preside.

On Aug. 13, deputies with the McDonald and Barry counties sheriff’s offices served a search warrant on Falls for failing to pay child support. While there, deputies noticed several trailers and, after running vehicle identification numbers, discovered they were stolen. The deputies then obtained a search warrant and returned to the home, seizing six flatbed trailers, a drag race car, and a boxed trailer, all reported stolen from Springfield, Mo.; as well as a backhoe, two trucks, three motorcycles, several stolen firearms — both long guns and handguns — and welders and chainsaws, according to Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland.

• • •

A pre-trial conference has been set for a Neosho man facing a felony sexual abuse charge.

Robert A. Herrin, 34, will be back in Newton County Division II Associate Circuit Judge Greg Stremel’s courtroom at 10 a.m. Sept. 25 for the proceeding.Herrin is accused of sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl on May 26 at his residence. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

He is being represented by C. Ross Rhoades, a Neosho attorney.

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